FLEOA Foundation History

Robert “Bob” E. Van EttenOn June 30th, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association lost a legend. In fact, the United States lost a legend. Robert “Bob” E. Van Etten. In 1977, Bob and eleven other Special Agents realized the need for legal representation and formed FLEOA, with Bob as National Present. FLEOA added 1,200 members during its first year and grew to 8,000 members at the end of 1990, Bod’s last year as National President. Bob led the way for our sacred Association to grow to 30,000 and a nationally recognized voice for federal law enforcement. Robert E. Van Etten was elected FLEOA National President, Emeritus and FLEOA Foundation President in 1993. Bob had a 31 year career in federal law enforcement that concluded as Special Agent in Charge of New York and New Jersey with the US Customs Service. In 1996, Bob was appointed Inspector General of the New York/New Jersey Port Authority, a position he held until his untimely passing. During Bob’s stewardship, the FLEOA Foundation awarded $2 Million in aid to law enforcement officers and their families. To pay honor to his legacy, an annual Robert “Bob” E. Van Etten Scholastic Grant has been established by the FLEOA Foundation and presented to the highest achieving high school graduate.

Robert “Bob” E. Van Etten

The FLEOA Foundation is a IRS sec. 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) non-profit corporation and was incorporated September 14th, 1993.The Foundation was created to financially assist FLEOA members and their families in times of need. Over the years the FLEOA Foundation has awarded hundreds of scholarships and thousands of dollars to federal law enforcement officers and their families.The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (www.FLEOA.org) is the largest nonpartisan, nonprofit professional association exclusively representing federal law enforcement. FLEOA currently represents over 25,000 active and retired Federal law enforcement officers from over 65 agencies.FLEOA is the “voice” of federal law enforcement and works with agency heads, administration officials and legislators to represent, protect and advocate for issues important to federal law enforcement officers. Every year, FLEOA also recognizes the work of distinguished law enforcement officers with yearly Heroism, Bravery and Investigative awards.

The best work that FLEOA does is through its FLEOA Foundation, an established IRS/CFC recognized 501(C)(3) charity, that is also part of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), that delivers emergency financial support to law enforcement officers in need. Whether it’s a line of duty death, health or fiscal issue, the Foundation responds and delivers help to those in need. Every year, the Foundation also solicits and awards educational scholarships to the children of law enforcement officers, with priority given to children of “the fallen.”The FLEOA Foundation hosts an awards ceremony every year at Club 101 in New York, NY to recognize distinguished law enforcement professionals and their work. The ceremony also includes an honoree who delivers a keynote address. Past recipients were former President William J. Clinton, former US Attorney Michael Mukasey, US Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thomas H. Collins, the US Attorney from the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara and this year’s award recipient was B. Todd Jones the first permanent Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).FLEOA and its Foundation offer corporations or individuals many ways to show their support with four sponsorship levels. Each level includes direct access to FLEOA’s Executive Staff and monitored communication thru FLEOA with its membership rolls. This year, the Foundation recognized Motorola and Target Corporation for their significant support of federal law enforcement and the Foundation.Actor Vincent D’Onofrio and his wife Carin van der Donk were also recognized for their stalwart support of the Foundation, law enforcement and its mission.The FLEOA Foundation uses 93% of its donations for federal law enforcement officers and their families, in need, and operates on a meager 7%. This is done out of the necessity and belief that the help should go direct and be used for those that need it.The FLEOA Foundation offers four sponsorship levels for you to “back up” federal agents in need. You can see them through the Corporate Sponsors link on the Foundation homepage.

If you would like to contribute to the FLEOA Foundation,please send in your tax deductible donation to:

The FLEOA Foundationc/o Peter ChartierP.O. Box 173Wyckoff, NJ 07481

guidelines for disbursing funds

check

To the families of FLEOA members killed in the line of duty – Scholarships to the children of FLEOA members.

check

To assist FLEOA members and their immediate family who have suffered catastrophic losses not covered by medical or other insurance.

check

To the families of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

As previously mentioned, we are in a much better financial situation to help FLEOA members. If you, or an immediate family member, are in need of assistance, we request that you contact your local chapter president who in turn, will notify the Foundation. Requests for assistance must be made in writing. By allowing the chapter president to be aware of your situation, he can notify the membership of your chapter of the circumstances regarding your request and they can make donations to the Foundation in your name. These donations, as well as the amount determined by the Foundation’s Board of Directors, will be sent to the chapter president to be presented to you.

The Foundation will accept written requests directly if a member wishes the request to remain confidential.

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is in full swing! The FLEOA Foundation is now an approved participant organization of the CFC. Its CFC participant number is 54726. (Page 56 in the CFC directory) Please remember the FLEOA foundation and its contribution to Law Enforcement when considering your choices. “Don’t go it alone